It’s getting close to another “stuff your face holiday” and I for one am going to do just that. We’ve made our menu and already I can tell I’m going to be full beyond belief, but the folks from WorkSmart Labs Inc. also saw this coming, and integrated two new fun ideas with their CardioTrainer app to help.

Burn the Turkey widget

Burn the Turkey is a widget that gives you an image of a full turkey on your home screen and the number of calories you might have gained from your holiday meal (3000). Once you place the widget, you can jump over to CardioTrainer to start a workout that will track the number of calories being lost, which is reflected in the image of the turkey. Literally, you get to see the turkey disappear to a mere pile of bones on the plate.

If you use CardioTrainer regularly, you’re familiar with the results at the end of each workout that tell you about how many pieces of fruit you burned from your workout (I usually get 3 apples or something like that) so the idea of being able to say I burned a whole turkey would feel like quite the achievement! Any new way to motivate me is welcome.

CardioTrainer Resolutions

Aside from the widget, WorkSmart Labs Inc. has also released a New Year’s resolution app, CardioTrainer Resolutions, that has another method of motivation – money. The idea has been done before, but none that I am familiar with on Android. This app adds a button to the CardioTrainer app’s home screen that says “New Year’s Resolution” and once you click it, directs you through the details you want to set for reaching your goal: number of times to exercise per week, amount of money at stake if you do not complete your goal, and the charity it will go to in said case. Once you decide, you are given a link to download the Donation Module app (appears as a paid app in the market) that corresponds with the amount you chose (ranges from $5 – $100 dollars).

If you meet your goal, you get a full refund through the Android market, just like with any other paid app.

At the end of the resolution period if you meet your goal, you will get the prompt to send us a notice that you met the resolution. Once we receive e-mailed note, we will give you a full 100% refund using the Market, just like with any other purchased module.WorkSmart Labs Inc.AppBrain

I don’t know if I’m brave enough to put money on my exercise endeavors, but are you? We’d love to hear about your goals and experiences, and how you stay motivated.

Angie is a designer and illustrator living in Austin, Texas. She's a graduate of the Communication Design program at Texas State and joined us full-time after a two-year run at a design firm here in Austin.